🐸 French Animalier Bronze Amphibian Frog Sculpture c.1850 – Parisian Workshop – In The Manner of Jules Moigniez 

🔎 Description

An exquisite mid-19th-century French bronze frog, cast in a Parisian workshop circa 1850.
This charming small sculpture is beautifully modelled in the naturalistic animalier style popularised by masters such as Fratin, Barye, and Jules Moigniez.

Executed in the manner of Moigniez, the piece captures the soft modelling and lifelike realism typical of the Parisian school of sculpture. Though unsigned—as was common for workshop bronzes of this period—it exhibits the finesse and craftsmanship unmistakably French in character.

Cast using the traditional lost-wax (cire perdue) method, the sculpture boasts a rich, naturally aged patina of deep brown and olive tones, enhanced by generations of gentle handling. The underside retains its original casting vent hole, authentic to Parisian production of the era.

Bronzes of this type were admired by 19th-century collectors such as William T. Walters, whose famed collection helped define appreciation for the animalier movement.
A tactile and weighty piece, perfect for collectors of antique bronzes, animalier works, or distinctive 19th-century French décor.

🏛️ Provenance

Private Collection, United Kingdom
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

💚 Why You’ll Love It

✅ Authentic French bronze from a mid-19th-century Parisian workshop
✅ Modelled in the manner of Jules Moigniez, a leading animalier sculptor
✅ Genuine, untouched antique patina with beautiful natural depth
✅ Solid, weighty bronze—ideal as a cabinet, desk, or display accent
✅ A charming and characterful piece of French animalier artistry

📏 Dimensions

• Length: 8.5 cm

• Width: 6.9 cm

• Height: 4.1 cm

• Weight: Approx. 0.3 kg

🏛️ Age & Origin

• Origin: France, Parisian workshop

• Date: Circa 1850

🐸 Key Features

• Solid lost-wax bronze casting

• Naturalistic animalier form

• Exemplary mid-19th-century Parisian craftsmanship

• Elegant, timeless display presence

🔧 Condition

Excellent antique condition throughout, with a rich, original 19th-century patina.
Gentle wear to high points reveals warmer bronze tones beneath—exactly as expected of an authentic period piece.

No cracks or repairs. The original vent hole remains intact.
Subtle highlights from handling, particularly at the toes, attest to its genuine age and history.